Weekend Getaway: Wining and Dining in Prince Edward County

In today’s fast paced world, we need to take every opportunity to give ourselves a break, right? That was my logic when I asked my sister to join me for a weekend in Prince Edward County. Michele is one of those incredibly busy women who works 15 hours a day. We don’t see each other often. I was delighted when she jumped at the chance of a weekend getaway.

We perused a B&B website and settled on Harrington Bed & Breakfast, because they offer a room with two twin beds, a private bath, an in-ground pool AND a hot tub. The delicious breakfast posted on their site would be a bonus.  We caught up with each other over a glass of wine by the pool, then changed and walked downtown to find something to eat.

The Acoustic Grill turned out to be ideal for a casual dinner. Their tagline is ‘the music is acoustic but our burgers ROCK’.  We decided to take their word for it. We opted for steak and salad and a local wine (Sandbanks Baco Noir).  Then we had poutine for dessert. So much for good eating intentions! The combination of fresh fries, melting cheese and gravy was too delicious to resist.

The plan for Saturday was to cycle some of the back roads and then tour a few wineries, so we made Friday an early night. The room was very comfortable without being overdone. I slept so well I didn’t hear my sister get up. She went out for an early morning ride (she’s training for a longer cycling trip), then met me and six other guests at the breakfast table. Nona's crust-less quiche with asparagus was excellent, the coffeepot was bottomless and the conversation was great. The other six guests had toured Prince Edward County before, and had lots of suggestions of wineries to try.

Believe it or not, Michele was actually up for a second bike ride with me after breakfast.  We consulted with our host, Brooke, on the best area to cycle, as I really have very little experience on my bike. Although I’ve owned my hybrid touring/mountain bike for almost 20 years, I only go out once or twice a year for short rides in the neighbourhood. My sister owns a serious cyclists’ road bike, the type with thin tires and a light aluminum frame.

I was up for a long ride, or at least, as long as my derriere could hold out. To make things easier, we decided to drive partway to a flat area. We stopped near Black River, then cycled South and East toward Long Point. Michele gave me some tips to help me get up and down hills, and soon I was cruising along at an average of 20kph. We planned to keep it short, but we were so taken by the gorgeous views of lake and farms that before I knew it, we had cycled 16kms before we turned around and cycled back.  For a first ride, 32kms is no mean feat. I couldn’t help grinning, feeling pretty proud of myself.

After a quick shower and lunch, the wine tour began. Prince Edward County’s wine industry is still fairly new, even by Canadian standards. To be honest, my taste normally goes to Italian and Spanish wines that get their flavour from their hot, dry, southern climates.  I was pleasantly surprised to find a few Bacos and Pinot Noirs that actually made my taste buds sing. High points included Sandbanks, Casa Dea and Karlo Estates. 

While it was tempting to sit and sip wines ‘til dusk, we had made reservations for dinner, so we hustled back to Picton, glammed ourselves up and made our way to Blumen Garden Bistro.  The special of the evening was a Spanish seafood stew served with fingerling potatoes. The atmosphere was pleasant, sophisticated, fun; definitely a good choice for our special weekend.

Sunday morning means another big B&B breakfast! Everyone at the table raved about Nona’s buttermilk pancakes. I opted for a lighter meal of scrambled eggs, fruit salad topped with her home-made muesli and yogurt. Brooke was charming, telling us about his collection of African busts. Originally from South Africa, Brooke and Nona Bussell chose to retire in Picton, and it’s obvious that they love it.

By the time we settled up and were ready to go, we felt like family. Nona and Brooke are warm, lovely people who really made us feel comfortable and at home. What a wonderful getaway! We packed a lot of fun into two and a half short days, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Come to think of it, I love travelling, tasting wine and blogging, so why not do it full time? Do I sense a life changing moment? For starters, I am entering this blog to the GoGirlfriend.com’s Blissdom Canada contest.

You can help me win, if you share this story and be sure to add the hashtag #GGBliss so the wonderful women at @GoGirlfriend know you’re on my team!